Lexington reservoir drownings

It boggles the mind. How the hell does this happen?

There is no place on this lake so distant from shore that a minimally competent swimmer couldn't make it to shore in five minutes. It's a shallow little lake.

Apparently, no life jackets were worn, even by the non swimmers.

I feel for the victims and their loved ones, but I'm dumbfounded by the circumstances. I can't imagine a much safer location to get someone out on a small boat. The water is cold, no doubt. Perhaps a bit of wind chop. Nothing daunting.

Seems pretty crazy that people lost their lives there.

Darwin Award Winners.

panic happens. victim flails, water gets aspirated, chokes the victim.

PFDs would probably have saved them.

terribly sad.

Thanks Paul.

Tragic for sure.

Be fun but HAVE SAFE!

Allen

According to the Sentinel, the canoe overturned about 200 feet from the shore. 200 feet.

According to the Sentinel, the canoe overturned about 200 feet from the shore. 200 feet.

Seems crazy. I couldn't tell you the last time I had to swim 200 feet, but geez I could at least side stroke it that far.
Plus, it was a lake without sharks in it so what's to be afraid of?  (to me it would be an "aw crap!" moment to be laughed about later)
But in the end, panic is all I can really come up with as to why the two men drowned. strange and sad.

PFDs are cool.

Panic and (perhaps) alcohol.

   The Santa Clara County Parks page says vessels need to be inspected for mussels and moisture before they are launched, and a fee is collected for that.  I suppose the inspector is at the launch ramp.  I wonder if they just hauled it down the hill from the frontage road alongside Hwy 17. 
   I don't know how many times I've seen folks in the flimsiest of vessels on the water without a lifejacket in sight - remember those small styrofoam sailboats some cigarette company used to give away?  I've seen someone paddling one of those out on a windy and murky Delta waterway without a life jacket.
    And I'll bet at least one of those people got on that canoe on the spur of moment at the encouragement of the others.
     
   

Panic and (perhaps) alcohol.

true.

I keep thinking of a guy in an intro to kayaking class I did in HMB once.
He capsized accidentally while we were experimenting with paddle strokes, and he really freaked. Tried to climb onto my kayak. I had to actually paddle away from him and direct him to bear hug only the bow of my kayak and talk him down ("you are wearing a PFD, you will not drown, just float & trust your PFD") to a close to normal breathing pace before I could get him T-rescued & back into his kayak. He was escorted to shore & was a spectator for the rest of the afternoon. One of only 2 or 3 times I couldn't pass a client.
 
Turned out he was always afraid of the ocean & thought kayaking would be a good way to overcome that, since kayaks are boats and you are not in the water.  I gave him credit for trying, and he said he was going to take a swimming class before he tried paddling again.

    And I'll bet at least one of those people got on that canoe on the spur of moment at the encouragement of the others.
     
   

Yeah, seems most likely.

If the water was chilly and they fell in without a PFD then that initial shock of hitting cold water got to them. You just can't catch that first breath unless you can relax. Happened to me on Del Valle and thank goodness for a PFD. If I didn't have it on I would have gone under quickly.

All I did to recover was to lean back in my PFD and told myself to relax and breath. Then when I got my wits about me I was able to assess my situation and evaluate what had to be done. Also a fellow NCKA brother came over to give me a hand.

Sad, but very preventable.  I have been out there and it is a nice little place, but the wind can pick up there in the afternoons, not as bad as some places but, canoes, to the inexpierenced, can be a deathtrap.  The initial shock and fear overcame them quickly most likely.

   The Santa Clara County Parks page says vessels need to be inspected for mussels and moisture before they are launched, and a fee is collected for that.  I suppose the inspector is at the launch ramp.

Not that it matters, but I was wondering if the lake is even open to boating.  It has been closed for the longest time.

Guess this answers my question.

Boat Inspections to Start at Lexington Reservoir and Continue at Four Santa Clara County Reservoirs

Thank you Santa Clara County boaters for a successful year of vessel inspections! It's an arduous task but so many of you have done it with courtesy and respect for the staff and the inspectors.  It's our mission, along with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to keep these mussel infestations out of Santa Clara County reservoirs. Reservations are strongly encouraged! To make a reservation, call 408.355.2201 or go to www.gooutsideandplay.org.

Inspections will continue throughout the winter so please be prepared! See Wet Weather Policy below.

Beginning April 15 through October 14 (7 days a week from 8am to 1/2 hour before sunset):

Coyote Lake, Calero will be open to all boating. Currently, Anderson Reservoir will remain closed until water levels rise and permit us to allow safe launching of vessels. 
Stevens Creek and Lexington Reservoirs will be open to non-power boating only. At this time, Lexington Reservoir is hand launch only due to low water levels.
Beginning October 15 through April 14 (8am to 1/2 hour before sunset):

Coyote Lake, Stevens Creek and Lexington Reservoirs will close to boating.
Anderson will remain open 5 days a week  - closed on Wednesday and Thursdays (except open on Holidays falling on a closed day)
Calero will remain open 5 days a week - closed on Monday and Tuesday (except open on Holidays falling on a closed day).

even if you are a strong swimmer, falling in with jeans, boots, jacket etc, can make it really hard to swim.  Poor swimmer, water logged clothes, a bit of wind chop, some inhaled water, a cramp and that is all she wrote.  Completely avoidable though...

According to the article, http://www.mercurynews.com/los-gatos/ci_23182714/lexington-reservoir-drowning-victims-were-brothers, there were 4 people in the canoe when it capsized. Two managed to swim to shore.

It is unfortunate we keep reading about these completely avoidable deaths.